The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
History
The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2
Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
Historic buildings -- England
Between the niches of the Shrine, over the arcades, are four coats of
arms, supported by angels, with the quarterings of La War, Cantilupe,
Mortimer, St. John, Poynings, Bonville, Wingfield, &c. The Tomb is a
peculiarly interesting and remarkably beautiful object. It has recently
been cleaned and repaired by order of the Duke of Richmond--somewhat
clumsily, however, for the workman has disarranged several of the
decorations, and one of the figures he has placed “upside down.” It is
richly carved in stone, and abundantly ornamented. Mr. Prout has
introduced it into the Drawing which exhibits the Interior of the
venerable Church, with its Pulpit of carved oak, black with age. An
ancient Font has been recently removed from the Nave to the foot of the
Pulpit. In the Chancel are many encaustic tiles--one of which supplies
us with an initial letter.
The Church is situated about eight miles west of Arundel, a short
distance out of the road to Chichester, from which it is distant about
four miles.
[Illustration:
From a drawing by A. E. Everett. Day & Son, Lithʳˢ to The Queen.
ASTON HALL, WARWICKSHIRE.]
ASTON HALL,
WARWICKSHIRE.
Aston Hall, the residence of James Watt, Esq.--whose name has been
rendered “famous for all time” by the genius and enterprise of his great
father--is situate about two miles from the town of Birmingham, on an
eminence which overlooks the river Tame. Although erected during the
reign of James the First and his successor, it is certain that a
baronial mansion previously existed adjacent to the present edifice:
authorities are conclusive on this point, and its site was indicated
until recently by some venerable trees, the relics of at least three
centuries. Prior to the Norman conquest (according to Dugdale) the manor
of Aston, or, as it was then written, Estone or East Town, was possessed
by Edwin earl of Mercia. Upon the distribution of lands which followed
that event, it was bestowed by the Conqueror upon William Fitz-Ausculf,
lord of the neighbouring castle of Dudley, for whom it was held by one
Godmund. It was certified to contain, at that time, viii. hides of land,
valued at 100 shillings, a mill rated at iii_s._, a church, and woods
extending three miles in length and half a mile in breadth. After
passing through the hands of several successive lords of Dudley, it was
presented by one of them, named Ralph Someri, in the beginning of the
reign of King John, to William de Erdington and his heirs for ever; and
we find the following curious grant respecting it, viz. “That the
manour-house and demesne at Estone, with divers tenements thereto
belonging, should be held by him, by the service of a pair of gilt
spurs, or the value thereof, viz. vi_d._, payable yearly at Easter, for
all services or demands whatsoever.” From the Erdingtons it passed to
the family of Maidenhache, whose daughter Sibel conveyed it by marriage
to Adam de Grymesurwe, whose daughter sold it in 1367 to John Atte Holt
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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